Mollies fish types and care guide that will help you keep your pet fish healthy and for longer. Mollies are tropical freshwater fish that can tolerate a wide range of water temperatures and salt levels.
Mollies Fish Types
Mollies grow from four to six inches in length. There are many varieties of mollies, such as the black molly, which have dark coloring on their body and fins. Some other common molly types are the Lyretail, Sailfin, Lyre Tail, and Carpet.
Mollies Fish Care Tips
Mollies can be kept in a tank with other fish or in a species tank. They should have at least 10 gallons of water to swim around per molly since they are very active swimmers.
There should also be rocks and wood in the tank, as well as some plants. The temperature of the water should be kept between 72- and 82-degrees Fahrenheit.
The nitrogen level or pH level can also be adjusted to provide a better environment for mollies. Mollies are tropical fish that do not normally live in colder climates, so they prefer water with a temperature that is closer to room temperature.
Mollies can live in fresh, brackish, or saltwater. They prefer freshwater but will adapt to other types of water as long as the salinity level does not exceed 15 parts per thousand. When the molly is living in another type of water it is called a brackish fish.
Feeding Mollies
Mollies are omnivores and should have some plants or algae in their diet, but also need meaty foods such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, or flakes. Plants give the molly proteins to sustain themselves.
They can also eat cucumbers, zucchini, or lettuce that are chopped up into small pieces. Leafy greens should also be given to them as long as it is not higher in calcium than they need.
Mollies prefer living in schools, so make sure to have at least three or more of the same kind of mollies in a tank. They will get scared if they are by themselves, and will not feel as comfortable without a school.
Mollies should be fed two or three times a day. They also need calcium added to their diet twice a week. It is better for the health of your mollies to have two smaller meals a day rather than one big meal.
After you feed them, make sure to not leave any uneaten food in the tank because it can contaminate the water and make your fish sick.
Molly Tank Mates
Mollies are not the most aggressive fish in the world, but can sometimes fight with other fish if they cannot find enough room to swim.
They should be kept with other peaceful fish that do not nip at their fins or tails. Mollies stay in the middle of the tank and do not usually stay on top or bottom.
Mollies are known to live for about five years. When they get older, mollies show their age by getting darker in color.
Make sure to have a water filter in your tank so that it can keep up with the waste produced by your mollies. Mollies can live in a 25-gallon tank, but it is best to have them in a larger tank if there are more than three fish.
Mollies should be kept in most cases with other brackish or freshwater species. Some fish can be aggressive and will cause harm to your mollies, such as tiger barbs, convict cichlids, or serpae tetras.
Anatomy of a Mollie
Mollies have an internal organ called a swim bladder. This organ helps them control their buoyancy in the water. This organ can be found between their esophagus and stomach.
The fish have eyes on both sides of their head, which gives them a 360 field of vision when they are swimming around. This helps mollies lookout for predators when they are swimming since they cannot fully turn their heads around to see behind them.
Mollies can have different patterns on their bodies that can help camouflage them from predators when they are in the water. They also use this to blend in with plants and rocks to protect themselves from other fish that might eat them.
Molly fish have pharyngeal teeth, which means they have teeth in their throats. These teeth are used to help mollies chew and break down the food they eat before it goes into their stomachs.
Mollies can grow up to a maximum of six inches long but usually grow about four or five inches long when fully grown. The females tend to be larger than the males.
Mollies prefer to live in groups, so they need a tank that is at least 30 gallons big. Make sure your fish are comfortable and living a healthy lifestyle by always having enough food and clean water available for them.
Interesting Facts About Mollies
In an aquarium setting, it’s best to house mollies in a tank that is at least 30 gallons. Mollies are omnivores, which means they eat meat and plants. They should be fed plant matter twice a week with calcium added in once a week.
Mollies can live up to five years, but usually, live for three or four years depending on the environment they live in. Mollies are mainly found in North American, but also can be found in Central and South America.
Mollies Fish Types And Care
Mollies are beautiful pet fish. If you have a large tank and you want to keep them you can give it ago. I hope this post on mollies fish types and care gave you some tips that you can use when caring for your pet molly. Follow me on Fishbasics Pinterest for more pet fish care tips.
